Kendal at Oberlin

Masks/Face Coverings

As shared yesterday, homemade masks are being crafted to equip independent living residents that do not have one of their own. We will report on Monday if we have enough masks to distribute to residents.

We continue to build an inventory of home-made masks so every resident can help by wearing whenever outside your home. Residents are asking when will I get a mask? Sewers are working as fast as they can, but more help is needed. YOU can help by considering making your own non-sewn mask. Here is a link.

If you can sew and have a machine, contact Nancy Cecil to see how you can help. If you are making masks that can be counted for our number of IL residents, let her know how many you have to offer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that Americans wear cloth face coverings (masks) in public to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This recommendation is being made based on studies that show a significant proportion of people with COVID-19 lack symptoms and can transmit the virus to others in close proximity, through speaking, coughing, sneezing or other means.

U.S. Mail Delivery

We are in the midst of planning to follow the practice of other Kendal CCRC’s who are delivering US Mail to your door like your meals. Our local post office has authorized us to move ahead. This will reduce the most congested space we have that brings residents and staff into risk. It will be a few days into next week before we can start this important service for you. Your mail will come with a rubber band and bagged carefully with your home # marked to ease delivery. Barbara has communicated with KORA President Gary Olin and will continue to keep him apprised on readiness to get this underway this coming week.

IGA Groceries

Our number of residents who signed up for a grocery order every two weeks is 110. We cannot take other sign-ups for this next two weeks. By IGA’s request, you are asked to limit your order to 15 items but you may have multiples of one item (i.e.2 loaves of bread). Sherrie of IGA will call you generally between 12-4 pm. Please do not call them to place your order. Pick-up from IGA will be at 2pm and returning to parking lots. Confirm order with Donna Baznik.

Week of April 6

Monday Order, Tuesday Delivery for units 1-32

Tuesday Order, Wednesday Delivery for units 33-62 and 133-144

Wednesday Order, Thursday Delivery for units 65-99

Thursday Order, Friday Delivery for units 100-132

Week of April 13

Monday Order, Tuesday Delivery for units 145-271

Tuesday Order, Wednesday Delivery for units 121-132 and 188-199

Wednesday Order, Thursday Delivery for units 200-223

Absentee Voting Applications

These may be picked up in the library on the large table near the copier. Don’t forget to vote!

Four Bright Spots Amid the Gloom of Coronavirus

Gleams of hope do exist, epidemiologists and other experts say, and it’s important to remember them to stay resilient in difficult times.

April distance brings May existence…Social distancing and masks MATTER! Barb is wearing a mask created by Kyle Michalak for our SCC caregivers, using a 3D printer. Each mask will take 10 hours to create. Kyle’s mother, Joyce Michalak, lived at Kendal and was an active volunteer in the Stephens Care Center.

Kendal at Oberlin

0 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

Masks

Beginning today, all Kendal at Oberlin staff in all departments have begun wearing masks as one more level of protection. The masks being worn were crafted by family and friends of staff outside Kendal and we are very grateful. These masks are not certified as medical masks, but they do reduce the spread of droplets, a primary source to spread COVID-19. We continue to reserve our certified medical masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for use when medically necessary, such as a confirmed case of COVID-19. Please watch this informative video from the Czech Republic:

Our next step will be to pass out a mask to every Independent Living resident who does not have one. We continue to look for our community sewers to continue as well as now lean in on our in-house resident helpers. Nancy Cecil is our lead coordinator for sewing helpers. Thank you to our Threads Group for bringing their talent to this need. We will report on Monday if we have enough masks to distribute to residents. Once begun, we ask that every independent resident wear their mask whenever they exit their home whether it is to get mail, take a walk or deliver groceries for others. We also ask that each resident hand-wash or launder their mask daily. Please do not wear a soiled mask!

Ohio March 17th Primary Vote Mail-In By April 28th!

From voteohio.gov – The coronavirus crisis has changed the trajectory of our lives. As we work to overcome those challenges, it’s still important to have your voice heard in the Ohio primary. The Ohio General Assembly has put in place a plan that will allow all Ohioans to continue voting by mail until April 28. Don’t lose your voice! Vote!

Everyone who has not voted yet in the March 17th Primary will need to print an absentee ballot request found at https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/voters/absentee-ballot/. Fill out the form, sign it, and return it to the Lorain County Board of Elections (address below) in order to request a mail-in ballot.

Voters who can’t print their own form may also simply write the following information on a blank sheet of paper and mail it to the Lorain County Board of Elections (address above);

full name

date of birth

full registration address including county

address where ballot should be mailed if different from your registration address

one of the these: Ohio driver’s license number, last four of your Social Security number or include a copy of an acceptable form of ID, such as a State ID or copy of a current government document such as a notice from Social Security or Medicare that shows the voter’s name and present address.

state that “I’m a qualified elector and I’m requesting an absentee ballot for the March 17th Ohio Primary”

Your request for the mail-in ballot needs to be completed as quickly as possible. When you receive your ballot, it must be completed, mailed and postmarked by April 27, 2020. It must be received by the board of elections by May 8, 2020 to be counted in the primary election if the proper information was provided on the identification.

Appreciation to our Kendal at Oberlin Staff Michele Tarsitano-Amato, Jara Dell, Laurie Dupee and Kelly Kukes, who took time to express our gratitude to each and every one of our faithful and dedicated employees with a sidewalk chalk message at the employee entrance.

Centering with Indira Palekar: Tapping into our Inner ResourcesMondays April 6, 13, and 20 from 3:30-4pm via Zoom. Anyone who did not previously request the Zoom link should send an email to Kim Peters or Kim Preston.

Advanced Directives and Advanced Care Planning in Light of COVID-19

Social Services is planning a remote workshop on Advance Directives and advance care planning. You are welcome to suggest a topic or question for consideration for inclusion in the program this month by emailing kpeters@kao.kendal.org or kpreston@kao.kendal.org

Clarification on Bleach Concentration for Cleaning Solution

From Alan Lockwood – In our April 1st Update, we shared that “Diluted household bleach solutions may also be used”, however, that lacked sufficient specificity. The CDC publication “Cleaning and Disinfection for Households” says diluted household bleach solutions (at least 1000ppm sodium hypochlorite) can be used if appropriate for the surface (Source : CDC, Cleaning and Disinfection for Households.

Read the label on your product to determine the concentration of sodium hypochlorite. It should be between 5.25% and 6.15%, depending on the manufacturer. If the label does not give the required information, don’t trust it. The table below tells how to dilute your product (Source: Disinfection with Bleach, 3M company). The CDC publication above contains much more on the topic.

Shopping for Groceries and Other

IGA – We have a few more than 100 people that will begin to get calls from IGA about every 2 weeks for orders not to exceed 2-3 bags max. We are working toward a schedule and will soon be able to share a day you can expect to get a call. We are so grateful for owner Leo Braido and his staff to give their efforts to meet our needs during this pandemic. Please be aware you will be more satisfied if you can be flexible on substitution. The market is continually changing on what manufacturers are able to provide.

Walmart – Please continue to place orders on Monday and Thursday and confirm when you get an order in with Donna Baznik so Transportation can plan the pickup on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Drug Mart – Particularly for residents who cannot order online, Drug Mart orders are being taken on an order form located on the round table in Heiser Center. This will be done every few days. You will be billed on your Kendal bill. You will be notified when your order has been picked up and is ready at Heiser.

Snippet Updates

A new sign will be installed at the Maple Street entrance on Monday reading: “Kendal at Oberlin is Sheltering-in-Place. Quarantined for SAFETY”.

Planning for Continuity-All departments are implementing A and B Work Teams, working different times/days to ensure continuity of services should we begin to experience COVID-19 among our workforce.

Echo Shows are now in use with SCC residents and their spouses living outside of the SCC.

Appointments Required for Health and Wellness Clinic- 440-775-9819. call before coming down, even if you only want your vitals checked. Please do not come to the HWC without calling first.

Lorain County Public Health-We continue to work in close collaboration with Lorain County Public Health as this crisis unfolds to ensure our readiness and response to ongoing changing conditions.

The CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program are being carefully studied by both Kendal at Oberlin and Kendal Corporation staff to weigh potential benefits for Kendal.

Kendal at Oberlin

0 Cases of COVID-19 THANK YOU!

Your sacrifices are making a difference, thank you for all that you are doing to flatten the curve by maintaining social distancing and staying on campus. We will get through this together with wisdom, science, and hope.

COVID-19 Projections

Kendal Practitioners and COVID

We want to protect you during this pandemic. Our practitioners, Georgia Newman, MD, Kashif Khan, MD, and Doris Jankovits, CNP, are visiting many of their patients remotely in order to keep you safe. For any appointment in the Health and Wellness Clinic at this time, we would prefer that the appointment be conducted remotely. This can be done via telephone, or for those with Apple devices such as an iPhone or iPad, we can do this via virtual visit technology. If you do not own an Apple device, we have an iPad we can set up for you in a remote room in the Heiser Community Center for the purposes of your appointment. Please contact Natasha Miller, Health and Wellness Clinic Receptionist, 440-775-9819, to make an appointment and for details.

SCAM Artists and Preying on Us

As shared by Senator Sherrod Brown

Reports across the country have shown that coronavirus scams are on the rise, and I want you to have the best information. These scammers prey especially on older Ohioans but have even targeted small business owners. Scammers have appeared selling fake vaccinations and testing kits; offering delivery of sanitation supplies; impersonating the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and many more. They occur online, on the phone, and in person.

Scammers are also targeting stimulus payments from the CARES Act. Remember: the government will not call you asking for PayPal information, or your Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers.

Here are some important tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

Hang up on robocalls and don’t press any buttons. Scammers are pitching everything from fake coronavirus treatments to work-at-home schemes. The recording might tell you to press a button to be removed from their call list, but it might lead to more robocalls.

Ignore online offers for vaccinations and home test kits. Scammers are trying to get you to buy products that aren’t proved to treat or prevent COVID-19.

Fact-check your information. Scammers, but also well-meaning people, share information that isn’t verified. Before you pass on any messages, contact trusted sources.

Do your homework when it comes to donations, especially with charities or crowdfunding sites. Investigate charities before you donate and don’t let anyone rush you into giving money.

Grocery Shopping

Walmart Grocery – Just a reminder that our arrangement for Walmart is you can order on Monday and get delivery on Tuesday, OR you can order on Thursday and get delivery on Friday. When you go online, you will be given the available times for pickup. It doesn’t matter what time you get because if your name has “Kendal” in it, they know to have your order for a 5pm pickup. Please give thoughtful attention to ordering simply for basics. They will not allow wine or alcohol for our orders, sorry.

IGA Grocery – Over 70 residents have signed up for grocery ordering every two weeks with IGA. Stay tuned for getting your day for ordering and delivery.

Drug Mart – We have a community volunteer that is willing to work with us for picking up Drug Mart orders that are truly drug store needs (not food, cleaning products, your usual array of things found at a pharmacy). You may start to submit orders again, but be aware we have a “review crew” who will help determine what items we cannot accommodate. There is a limited time available so please consider how important your item is, and if it can’t also be easily obtained online. And please:NO FOOD items. Thank you!

Holiday Hope and Peace During Pandemic

The Therapy Department will be lighting their Christmas tree in their front window on Heiser Circle every night throughout our “Stay-at-Home” as a reminder of hope and peace to all.

Kendal at Oberlin

0 Cases of COVID-19

Kendalites Self-Help

From Alan Lockwood, MD – here are two useful things Kendal residents might want to know and can do to protect themselves and others:

Make your own mask. The April 1st edition of TheNew York Times contains detailed instructions for sewing your own mask. The instructions are fairly detailed. Following them will help pass the time and create a product that is useful.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Diluted household bleach solutions may also be usedif appropriate for the surface. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Leave solution on the surface for at least one minute. To make a bleach solution, mix:

5 tablespoons (1/3 cup) bleach per gallon of water
OR

4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water

Disinfectant Solution Reminder

Stores continue to have low if no available inventory for such things as disinfectant wipes, alcohol wipes, etc. Kendal has made available an approved CDC solution of Clorox and water for cleaning counters. If you have clean empty spray bottles, drop them off at the front desk and we will return them filled and labeled. If you do not have a bottle, Kendal has a shipment coming and can pass along the minor cost for a bottle. You can leave a note or call the receptionist with this request.

Protecting You and Others: Change in Independent Living Nurse Call

Following CDC guidelines on controlling the spread of COVID-19, when you make a call to a Kendal RN for assistance from Independent Living (either by phone or Nurse Call), your need will first be triaged over the telephone. The Kendal RN will support and guide you, but she may or may not come out to your home depending on your situation. The RN may call 911 directly to come and assist you. This is to protect the RN from possible COVID-19 exposure as well as potential cross-contamination to other Independent Living residents or those living in the Stephens Care Center.

Where Will You Receive Care if You Contract COVID-19?

Plans are in place to ensure you receive support and care should you contract COVID-19. Eighty percent (80%) of those who come down with COVID-19 experience mild symptoms. If you are identified or suspected with COVID-19, we will work to support you in your home, perhaps with the support of Ohio Living Home Health. As professionally assessed and necessary, you may be sent out to an Emergency Room or admitted to the Stephens Care Center. We know that this may be subject to change given availability at the acute care level and in the Stephens Care Center. Be assured, we will work with you to ensure you receive appropriate care and support.

COVID-19 Wing Designated in the Stephens Care Center

Five rooms in the Stephens Care Center have been designated and are fully supplied with necessary Personal Projective Equipment (gloves, masks, gowns) in preparation to care for those Stephens Care Center (SCC) residents with COVID-19. If we have a COVID-19 case in the SCC or as an admission from Independent Living, the resident will be moved to that designated area, and it would be sealed off from the other areas of the Stephens Care Center. At the same time, our COVID-19 SCC staffing team would be engaged. These staff members would work only with those COVID-19 patients and not work in other areas of the SCC to prevent cross-contamination.

Hand Sanitizer Shortage

Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is becoming more difficult to find in local stores and even medical supply companies. Kendal at Oberlin is not able to provide this to your individual home. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us the best method for prevention of COVID-19 is hand-washing, which is more effective than sanitizer. We fervently encourage all residents and staff members to wash your hands frequently and often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, making sure to get under rings and washing each finger individually.

Department Planning Continues

We want you to know that planning has been underway in various stages so that each department, no matter how small or large is working toward implementing A & B (even C) scheduling of staff so there is a reduced chance knocking out a whole work team if someone comes down with the virus. Departments continue to ensure cross-training of positions should there be vacancies that cannot be helped. This will ensure continuity of work. The management team has been asked to refresh their short-term succession plans to assure clear communication of authority under unexpected situations.

Dining, Groceries and Housekeeping

Appreciation is expressed to all the residents who have given their thoughtful attention to updating needed choices so we can stay on top of meeting your needs. We had very good cooperation for affirming meal plan choices for the first two weeks in April, as well as some added housekeeping options. Residents have been steadily turning in grocery orders for our in-house program with favorable comments overall. Walmart served about 30 residents with our two first orders and will continue to operate on Tuesday and Friday (same 5:30pm arrival at Kendal).

Oberlin IGA

Sign up on clipboard near open mailboxes to be called for a grocery ordered.

We are developing an expanded plan to facilitate more frequent grocery orders from our local IGA. The plan was developed with Leo Braido, IGA owner. They will call YOU on an assigned day for ordering/delivery based on our neighborhood/parking lot map. This will be offered every two weeks for residents interested. It will be limited to three (3) bags of groceries. There is a clip board near the mailboxes to check off your name (Bring your own pen.). Please do this by Friday to help us plan. We’ll take it from there and give you an update in a future bulletin how this will work.

Personal Protective Equipment and More

Masks are still in great demand and our goal is to have one for every resident and staff member in the community. While we have a good inventory for our care-giving staff in the Stephens Care Center, we are seeking more urgently the clever home-made masks sewn from cotton. Since elastic is in great demand, we recommend using ties instead of elastic. You will soon be seeing staff in masks as they become available and a request for residents to wear a mask whenever you go outside your home.

Amy Acton, MD Article Referenced Today

Drug Mart Shopping NOT a Go!

Unfortunately, after a sincere effort today and further evaluation by our friends at Drug Mart, they cannot help us gather your many requests offered at Drug Mart. The range of items requested was everything imaginable, and they have their own workforce shortages during this pandemic. There were some items delivered today, but it was shopped by Kendal staff for this exception. A few items may still be sent over by Drug Mart this week, but no more non-med orders can be requested. Please use the online Walmart system offered 2x week at Kendal or Amazon which comes by UPS or Amazon delivery. That is your most reliable source and please do consider what is truly essential during this pandemic.

Indira Palekar’s Centering Exercise Yesterday

Indira provided her first centering meditative exercise drawing a group of 25 people online. Four quick takeaways – 1) Our bodies and our minds are built to survive; they are amazing tools. 2) Move for 30-40 minutes every day. 3) Engage your five senses in a purposeful way, body awareness meditation for 10 minutes. 4) Express gratitude.

There are several additional sessions and new topics. Indira’s sessions will eventually be taped and can be shared with all.

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

The pandemic is hitting all of us differently. Mental health services are available to Kendal, please contact Social Services at 440-775-9813 or kpreston@kao.kendal.org.

Kendal at Oberlin

0 Cases of COVID-19

Being Good Neighbors

Being a good neighbor comes easy for Kendalites, being a good neighbor during a Pandemic requires doing so with more caution. Please continue to reach out to one another through phone calls, FaceTime, other forms of technology and friendly waves from at least 6 feet away. Please do not share food wrapped in plastic, foil or containers. There is concern that wrappers/containers could carry COVID-19.

The Heiser Front Desk is busier than ever. For the comfort of other residents and staff, remember to maintain your 6 feet of social distancing.

Trash Rooms

Housekeepers will be giving extra attention to Trash Rooms, disinfecting high touch areas. Please take these precautions when taking out trash:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before taking your garbage to the Trash Room.

After returning to your home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Disinfect doorknobs and other surfaces that were touched.

Requests During Pandemic

Our community is now focused on preventive measures against COVID-19. Residents and staff are working together to flatten the curve and minimize its impact on our campus. Please understand, many personal requests cannot be fulfilled at this time.

Please direct your questions to the most appropriate Department Head as listed in your Kendal Directory. All questions and requests are being prioritized; please be patient as you wait for your question or request to be answered.

Stephens Care Center Additional Preparations

We are working closely with our institutional oxygen provider, Lincare. Kendal now has additional oxygen concentrators available for use in the Stephens Care Center if needed.

Weekly Wellbeing Calls to Residents

If you have not received a wellbeing call from a Kendal staff member, please let the front desk know by calling them. We are in our second week of making these calls.

Grocery Orders

We are still in our trial efforts with Walmart and will have two delivery days this week. If you do not have our 2-page description of setting up your special account, it can be found on the round table in Heiser.

We are test-piloting a small group of IGA orders this week. Each order has to be called in and must not contain more than 15 items. Credit cards will be on file with IGA, shared over the phone. We will let you know how this works. It has been offered to about 15 people who are not using Kendal meals as a starting effort.

Hospitality Services is offering residents several options for meal plans and housekeeping plans.

We want to remind everyone the current meal plan opt-out period ends tomorrow, 3https://kao.kendal.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/03/IMG_3668.jpg If you wish to continue or begin to opt-out from the meal delivery service, please sign up on the list by the mailboxes. There is also a list there to opt-in for the two-meal-a-day plan for an additional charge of $61.50 for each additional two-week period. Remember: if you do not sign up for these, you will automatically be included in the daily meal delivery program.

Sign-up sheets related to the two new housekeeping options are also located by the mailboxes. Residents can sign up for the Express Clean service or opt-out of housekeeping services entirely. Again, if you do not sign up for these, you will automatically be included in our regular housekeeping service with the enhanced infection control measures.

Our grocery business is very brisk and the volume is growing quickly. Please know we are introducing new measures to help us spread out the demand and “flatten the grocery curve”! We may “bump” your order to deliver it a day early or you may experience an afternoon delivery. Whenever possible, we are sending only completed orders. If you receive a partial order, it is because we won’t have the item in stock for another 48 hours. Sysco has announced they are eliminating all Wednesday orders, so we are working with other vendors to supplement our inventory needs midweek. Please continue to send me your comments and suggestions for anything hospitality- related at gzehe@kao.kendal.org. Thank you!

Discount Drug Mart

We are piloting our first orders with Discount Drug Mart. No food can be ordered from them and orders are being spaced over four (4) days this week. If you have needs for items that can be easily ordered online (like copy paper), please do. We know Discount Drug Mart has a marvelous inventory, but we are trying to use them for limited sundries typical for a drug store.

Kendalight

Our much experienced Chief Editor Elizabeth Aldrich has informed us you can look for the April edition without fail on April 1 (No Fooling), but plan to read it online from now on, unless you are listed to get paper notices from Kendal.

Housekeeping Service Plan

Based on the 3 options presented in yesterday’s bulletin, we will assume you wish to retain standard services with enhanced infection control procedures unless you choose to have an Express Service Plan or suspend services for a two-week period. For ease of organizing any changes, we’ll put a clipboard near the open mailboxes to choose Express or Suspend Service for two weeks. If you have more questions you can contact Crystal Hall at 775-9199 or email her at cyhall@kao.kendal.org. Whenever you are not feeling well, do call the Health and Wellness Clinic to report this so we can temporarily suspend housekeeping.

Dining Plans

As was offered in March, you may suspend your meal plan for the first weeks in April in return for a daily credit. This must be done for the whole two weeks, April 1-15. To opt out of the mid-meal dining program, sign up at the mailboxes. A sheet will be put out sometime on Monday, offering plenty of time for the start on Wednesday, April 1.

You also have the option to ADD a second meal (lunch). This may reduce your need for groceries. We will put out a sheet for those wishing to add lunch for the full two weeks. Meal delivery will occur all at the same time for efficiency.

Drug Mart

You will be alerted when we have your Drug Mart order in Heiser for pickup. We are only doing six (6) faxed orders a day. Again, three items maximum (no food) and they should be essential. We want to support our local businesses, but during this pandemic time we have to work with the available resources of Kendal and our partners. Remember you can order from other sources such as Amazon when this does not meet your timeline with our limitations.

Grocery Ordering

Our first online order system was a partial success. Partial because we could not accommodate more than 14 orders. Successful for all the volunteers who were able to help deliver. We are now planning to add a second partner this coming week, IGA, but this will have different procedures and is guaranteed again to have limitations for the number of persons we can serve. We ask that you do not place an order more than every other week to give others a chance. We also ask that you consider what is essential to get by, so this does not become unmanageable and can serve a greater number of persons. Donna Baznik will be tracking who has a confirmed order so we can be sure everyone’s essential needs are getting addressed. We will put out information about IGA on Monday or Tuesday. Meantime, those of you who were not able to get your order into Walmart: please try to place your order Monday–the earlier the better–for Tuesday delivery. You are asked to confirm with Donna Baznik that you placed and paid for your order.

Handling Groceries

Here are some practical guidelines for handling food and food safety at any time and specifically during this current Pandemic of COVID-19: